Declan clapped his hands together. “Let’s get started.”
The chief of the volunteer fire brigade distributed personal protective equipment and then took them through their paces. About an hour in Georgie’s phone rang. She winced and dragged it out of her pocket. “Sorry, I should have set it to silent.”
She hesitated when she saw it was Darcy. He wouldn’t call her unless it was urgent. She turned away and answered. “What’s wrong?”
“Is Matt with you?”
Dread dropped over her and she moved away from the group. “No. He should be at the Ridge by now.” Had he had an accident? Was he lying upside-down in his car like her parents had, waiting to be rescued? Her heart raced and she gasped for breath.
“OK. Don’t worry. He’s probably fine. I’ll call Dot and check the roads.” Darcy’s voice trembled. He’d be having flashbacks of finding their parents.
No way was she letting him deal with this by himself. “I’ll drive from this end. We can meet in the middle.”
“No, stay where you are. You’re safer there. This could be a Stonefish ruse.”
“I’m not sitting here twiddling my thumbs.” Her phone beeped to notify her of an incoming call. Matt. Her heart leapt. “It’s Matt. I’ll call you back.” She hung up on her brother and answered. “Matt, where are you?”
Chapter 20
Matt drove out of town after following Georgie to the fire station to make sure she arrived safely. He’d have to thank Nhiari for arranging things with Declan so Georgie wasn’t alone today. The police were still looking for the gunman but he could be anywhere by now. They’d all sleep better when he was found.
He turned down the road which led to the Ridge and slowed as he spotted a four-wheel drive with the bonnet popped. The tall male driver stepped out from behind the car and frantically waved him down. He was lean and wore a polo shirt and shorts with boater shoes. Maybe a corporate type who jogged regularly. Two kids’ bicycles were on the back and Matt could just see their car seats peeking over the back seat; one definitely had a child in it.
He couldn’t leave anyone stranded out here. It might be hours before someone else came past. Matt pulled to a stop behind the car and got out. “You got a problem?”
“I think it overheated,” the guy said.
His voice gave Matt goosebumps. Matt stopped, glanced in the back passenger window. One child seat had a blow-up doll in it. What the—?
Something hard pressed into Matt’s back. “You’re going to do exactly what I say.”
Fuck. Matt’s skin grew clammy. He never should have stopped. The man’s reflection in the window was the same height and build as the gunman. “Are you going to shoot me?”
“Not yet. I need you for something. Get in the front.”
He was so screwed. This man would kill him without hesitation. Somehow, he needed to call his sister. No, he needed to delay. He’d called Darcy before leaving town to check whether they needed anything. When he didn’t show in an hour, Darcy would raise the alarm.
Assuming he noticed the time and realised Matt hadn’t radioed in.
But overpowering the guy wasn’t an option. No way he’d avoid a gunshot directed to his kidneys. He moved around the front of the car and climbed in, the gunman right next to him.
“Call your girlfriend.”
“No.” No way was he involving Georgie. She was safe in town.
“Call her or I’ll shoot you.”
“You’re going to shoot me anyway.”
The man scowled, his dark eyes like daggers. “I’m going to enjoy killing you.” He pulled out a cable tie and tied Matt’s hands together. “Give me your phone.”
“It’s in my pocket.” And almost impossible to get out while sitting and wearing jeans.
The man swore and he fumbled with Matt’s pocket, the gun still pressed against Matt’s side. Any move and Matt was dead. Chills went through him, too scared to be impressed by the man’s dexterity. No chance to overpower him.
The man used facial recognition to unlock the phone and then scrolled through it. “Her name’s Georgie, isn’t it?”
“She won’t come. She’s smarter than that.”
